Chronic Abdominal PainAMANPREET DHALIWAL

JULY 23, 2015

Learning Objectives1. To learn what aspects are important in medical history (present illness, past

family and personal history)

2. To establish a differential diagnosis for chronic abdominal pain

3. To recognize red flags in children with chronic abdominal pain

4. To review the management and basic investigations pertinent to children with chronic abdominal pain

Bidirectional Gut-Brain Axis

DefinitionChronic abdominal pain is defined as

A. Continuous or intermittent abdominal discomfort lasting for atleast 6 months

B. 3 episodes of severe pain in a child >3 years old for atleast 3 months

C. Pain of more than 2 weeks duration

D. Severe pain in a child >3 years old for more than 3 months

DefinitionChronic abdominal pain is defined as

A. Continuous or intermittent abdominal discomfort lasting for atleast 6 months

B. 3 episodes of severe pain in a child >3 years old for atleast 3 months

C. Pain of more than 2 weeks duration

D. Severe pain in a child >3 years old for more than 3 months

Remember the Rule of 3s 3 episodes of severe pain

Child >3 yr old

Over 3 month period

Key History Questions Present Illness

Past Family History

Personal History

Key History Questions Present Illness

◦ Description of pain- location, quality, frequency, duration and timing of episodes

◦ Associated symptoms

Past Family History◦ Recurrent abdominal pain◦ Peptic ulcer◦ IBS/IBD◦ Food allergies◦ Lactose intolerance◦ Gall bladder disease

◦ Kidney stones◦ Migraine headaches◦ Mediterranean descent

Personal History◦ Travel history◦ Congenital or acquired immunodeficiencies◦ Intra-abdominal surgeries◦ Dietary history◦ Medications◦ Sexual activity◦ Menses

Case A 9-year-old girl is brought to your office with a 6-month history of peri-umbilical pain. Characteristics of pain are described as follows: it occurs mainly after eating, lasts from 10 minutes to one hour, frequency varies since there might be times when she complains of pain twice a day but there are other times when she is symptom free for a month. She described the pain as if someone was “punching” her belly. Her symptoms worsen at school but acknowledge she eats a lot of junk food. There is no history of nocturnal pain but halitosis has been noticed. Her weight, appetite and energy level have been stable. Further history revealed BMs every 3 days and stools are hard and some intermittent soiling. Mild headaches have been associated. Her family history revealed migraines and irritable bowel syndrome on the mother.

There were no abnormalities on exam; anthropometrics plotted her on the 25th percentile.

Back to case A 9-year-old girl is brought to your office with a 6-month history of peri-umbilical pain. Characteristics of pain are described as follows: it occurs mainly after eating, lasts from 10 minutes to one hour, frequency varies since there might be times when she complains of pain twice a day but there are other times when she is symptom free for a month. She described the pain as if someone was “punching” her belly. Her symptoms worsen at school but acknowledge she eats a lot of junk food. There is no history of nocturnal pain but halitosis has been noticed. Her weight, appetite and energy level have been stable. Further history revealed BMs every 3 days and stools are hard and some intermittent soiling. Mild headaches have been associated. Her family history revealed migraines and irritable bowel syndrome on the mother.

Physical Exam OSCE Station Vitals are vital

Growth parameters: weight, height, growth velocity

Inspection◦ General Appearance and level of comfort or discomfort

Abdominal Exam◦ Auscultate◦ Percuss Palpation (to assess enlarged organs or masses)◦ Carnett sign (differentiate visceral from abdominal wall pain

DRE ◦ Impacted stool, perinanal fistuals or deep fissures

±Pelvic Exam if history suggests

Red Flags

Adapted from Uptodate

Red Flags

Differential Diagnosis Ask yourself is this ORGANIC or FUNCTIONAL?◦ Think about information

gathered from history and physical

Differential Diagnosis Organic

◦ Many but to name a few◦ Gastritis◦ Duodenal ulcer◦ Pancreatitis◦ Hepatitis◦ Celiac◦ IBD◦ SLE

Differential Diagnosis Functional

◦ Rome-III Diagnostic Categories ◦ H1. Vomiting and Aerophagia

◦ H1a. Adolescent Rumination Syndrome ◦ H1b. Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome ◦ H1c. Aerophagia

◦ H2. Abdominal Pain-related Functional GI Disorders ◦ H2a. Functional Dyspepsia ◦ H2b. Irritable Bowel Syndrome ◦ H2c. Abdominal Migraine ◦ H2d. Childhood Functional Abdominal Pain ◦ H2d1. Childhood Functional Abdominal Pain Syndrome

◦ H3. Constipation and Incontinence ◦ H3a. Functional Constipation ◦ H3b. Non-retentive Fecal Incontinence

Differential Diagnosis Functional

◦ Rome-III Diagnostic Categories ◦ H1. Vomiting and Aerophagia

◦ H1a. Adolescent Rumination Syndrome ◦ H1b. Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome ◦ H1c. Aerophagia

◦ H2. Abdominal Pain-related Functional GI Disorders ◦ H2a. Functional Dyspepsia ◦ H2b. Irritable Bowel Syndrome ◦ H2c. Abdominal Migraine ◦ H2d. Childhood Functional Abdominal Pain ◦ H2d1. Childhood Functional Abdominal Pain Syndrome

◦ H3. Constipation and Incontinence ◦ H3a. Functional Constipation ◦ H3b. Non-retentive Fecal Incontinence

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Rome III Criteria

Must include all of the following:◦ Within the preceding two months, at least weekly occurrence of:◦ Abdominal discomfort or pain associated with ≥2 of the following:

◦ Relieved with defecation, and/or◦ Onset associated with a change in frequency of stool, and/or◦ Onset associated with a change in form (appearance) of stool

◦ No evidence of inflammatory, anatomic, metabolic, or neoplastic process to explain the symptoms

Abdominal Migraine◦ Must include ALL of the following criteria, fulfilled two or more times in the preceding 12 months:◦ Paroxysmal episodes of intense, acute periumbilical pain that lasts for 1 hour or more. ◦ Intervening periods of usual health lasting weeks to months. ◦ The pain interferes with normal activities. ◦ The pain is associated with ≥2 of the following:

◦ a. Anorexia. ◦ b. Nausea.◦ c. Vomiting. ◦ d. Headache. ◦ e. Photophobia. ◦ f. Pallor.

◦ No evidence of an inflammatory, anatomic, metabolic, or neoplastic process considered that explains the subject’s symptoms.

Functional Constipation◦ Must include ≥ 2 of the following:

◦ Straining during at least 25% of defecations ◦ Lumpy or hard stools in at least 25% of defecations ◦ Sensation of incomplete evacuation for at least 25% of defecations ◦ Sensation of anorectal obstruction/blockage for at least 25% of defecations ◦ Manual maneuvers to facilitate at least 25% of defecations (e.g., digital evacuation, support of the pelvic

floor) ◦ Fewer than three defecations per week

◦ Loose stools are rarely present without the use of laxatives ◦ Insufficient criteria for irritable bowel syndrome ◦ * Criteria fulfilled for the last 3 months with symptom onset at least 6 months prior to

diagnosis

Bristol Stool Chart

*Encopresis

Case A 9-year-old girl is brought to your office with a 6-month history of peri-umbilical pain. Characteristics of pain are described as follows: it occurs mainly after eating, lasts from 10 minutes to one hour, frequency varies since there might be times when she complains of pain twice a day but there are other times when she is symptom free for a month. She described the pain as if someone was “punching” her belly. Her symptoms worsen at school but acknowledge she eats a lot of junk food. There is no history of nocturnal pain but halitosis has been noticed. Her weight, appetite and energy level have been stable. Further history revealed BMs every 3 days and stools are hard and some intermittent soiling. Mild headaches have been associated. Her family history revealed migraines and irritable bowel syndrome on the mother.

There were no abnormalities on exam; anthropometrics plotted her on the 25th percentile.

Investigations Pick 5 of the following investigations you would order as initial workup1. CBC2. Lytes3. ESR4. Amylase, lipase5. Urinalysis6. Abdominal US7. Stools for O&P, C&S, occult blood8. AXR9. CXR10. CT abdo11. Barium upper GI series12. Endoscopy13. Colonoscopy

Investigations Pick 5 of the following investigations you would order as initial workup1. CBC2. Lytes3. ESR4. Amylase, lipase5. Urinalysis6. Abdominal US7. Stools for O&P, C&S, occult blood8. AXR9. CXR10. CT abdo11. Barium upper GI series12. Endoscopy13. Colonoscopy

Follow up Evaluation Can use the following one or more investigations if warning signs, abnormal lab results, or specific or persistent symptoms

CT abdo with oral, rectal, IV contrast

Celiac disease serology

Barium upper GI series

Endoscopy

Colonscopy

Management Approach Combination of

◦ Therapeutic relationship

Management Approach Combination of

◦ Therapeutic relationship◦ Patient Education

Management Approach Combination of

◦ Therapeutic relationship◦ Patient Education◦ Return to school

Management Approach Combination of

◦ Therapeutic relationship◦ Patient Education◦ Return to school◦ Behavior modification

Management Approach Combination of

◦ Therapeutic relationship◦ Patient Education◦ Return to school◦ Behavior modification◦ Improved coping

Management Approach Combination of

◦ Therapeutic relationship◦ Patient Education◦ Return to school◦ Behavior modification◦ Improved coping◦ Managing Triggers

◦ Lactose, fructose free diet

Management Approach Combination of

◦ Therapeutic relationship◦ Patient Education◦ Return to school◦ Behavior modification◦ Improved coping◦ Managing Triggers◦ Managing Symptoms

Managing Symptoms Abdominal pain

◦ Probiotics◦ Fiber◦ Peppermint oil (↓ smooth muscle spasms)

Dyspepsia◦ Small frequent meals◦ Avoidance of food that aggravate symptoms◦ Trial of H2 blocker or PPI for 4-6 weeks

Constipation

ConstipationDisimpaction

GoLYTELYPEG Enema

Sodium phosphateSalineMineral oil

Digital disimpaction

MaintenancePolyethylene glycolMagnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia)LactuloseMineral oil

Behaviour ModificationToilet sittingReward systemMonitoring

Diary, log the bowel movements

Dietary changesFiberTrial of 2 weeks of eliminating all cow’s milk protein from diet

Prognosis Pain resolves in 30-50% of kids within 2-6 weeks of diagnosis

30-50% of kids with recurrent abdominal pain will have functional pain as adults.

Follow up Bring them back in 2-3 months initially

Management Which of the following has shown to be most effective in treating abdominal pain in children

A. CBT

B. Famotidine

C. Dietary changes (↑ fiber, food avoidance)

D. Peppermint oil

Management Which of the following has shown to be most effective in treating abdominal pain in children

A. CBT

B. Famotidine

C. Dietary changes (↑ fiber, food avoidance)

D. Peppermint oil

Case A 9-year-old girl is brought to your office with a 6-month history of peri-umbilical pain. Characteristics of pain are described as follows: it occurs mainly after eating, lasts from 10 minutes to one hour, frequency varies since there might be times when she complains of pain twice a day but there are other times when she is symptom free for a month. She described the pain as if someone was “punching” her belly. Her symptoms worsen at school but acknowledge she eats a lot of junk food. There is no history of nocturnal pain but halitosis has been noticed. Her weight, appetite and energy level have been stable. Further history revealed BMs every 3 days and stools are hard and some intermittent soiling. Mild headaches have been associated. Her family history revealed migraines and irritable bowel syndrome on the mother.

There were no abnormalities on exam; anthropometrics plotted her on the 25th percentile.